The rerouting of traffic over the weekend, in response to a fatal collision at the Bruhn Bridge in Sicamous, offered some insight into things to come.
During Salmon Arm council's Monday meeting (Aug. 26), Mayor Alan Harrison shared his sympathies for the family of 25-year-old Raminderjeet Singh, who was killed after the eastbound semi truck he was driving hit the bridge's south railing and plunged into the Sicamous Channel.
"We’re certainly thinking of the family of the driver of the transport that ran off the Bruhn Bridge in Sicamous," said Harrison during council's Columbia Shuswap Regional District (CSRD) update.
Harrison proceeded to thank CSRD communications co-ordinator Tracy Hughes for the numerous updates shared on the incident that required the response of more than 15 agencies, including emergency responders, the Shuswap Emergency Program, and the ministries of transportation and environment.
Coun. Kevin Flynn, the CSRD board chair, echoed Harrison's sentiments, both on the tragic loss and the "great job" done by the regional district's communications team. However, he also viewed the collision as a "temporary trial" of what will be experienced over the next three years as the province proceeds to construct a replacement of the 62-year-old Bruhn Bridge.
"There is going to be significant closures and significant traffic being rerouted down 97A and up 97B," cautioned Flynn. "We’re not going to have any more traffic through our community, but it’s going to be coming through a different way and I think we just need to be prepared for that."
At its July meeting, the CSRD board received a presentation about the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure's (MoTI) plans for the bridge replacement/construction, set to begin in September. Consultant Jennifer Stites explained the project will include blasting, with each blasting session, including removal of material, lasting about 60 minutes.
To minimize traffic disruptions, the ministry plans to reduce the construction duration, provide consistent and predictable access for local residents and businesses, avoid closures during regular commuter windows and limit closures during peak summer tourist season. As well, road closures will be consistent and predictable for all road users "as short as possible."
The board was informed alternate route improvements would be made to divert eastbound traffic from Hwy. 1 to 97B, then 97A along Mara Lake to Sicamous. This 48-kilometre detour is expected to add anywhere from 30 to 45 minutes to the drive, depending on the time of day.
Flynn suggested the city needs to highlight with the ministry areas of concern along detour routes, adding traffic "was crazy" on Saturday as a result of the bridge's closure.
"We need to be prepared because we’re going to be dealing with that kind of traffic on 97B," warned Flynn.
Harrison said the city plans to meet with MoTI staff at the upcoming Union of B.C. Municipalities convention (Sept. 16-20), and at the top of the list for that conversation are concerns related to the bridge construction and traffic rerouting, "especially about the intersection of Auto Road and 97B."
"The site lines there are not good and there are some things that can be done about it, so we have spoken to the ministry and to staff, and I intend on bringing it up with MoTI staff at the UBCM," said Harrison.
